The Association ofGuernsey Charities has launched a new campaign to encourage islanders to support local charities and voluntary groups through the current crisis. They are “challenging” islanders to be inventive, and create home-based sponsored activities to help fund local charities.

The Great Community Challenge uses the facilities provided through Giving.gg – the local online fundraising and donation website.

The Association is hoping that plenty of people and charities will get behind The Great Community Challenge by arranging fundraising activities and sponsored events that they can complete within their own home. Details of the event should then be added to the Giving.gg website, together with details of the organisation that will benefit. Users can promote their sponsored activity through their personal social media pages, and encourage friends, contacts, and colleagues to donate.

Malcolm Woodhams,Chairman, Association of Guernsey Charities, said “We know that many charities are suffering at the moment as they have had to cancel vital fundraising eventsfor the months ahead. Additionally, some organisations are having to work even harder providing essential care and services around the island.”

“Whilst we all need to remain at home for the moment, we would like the community to start thinking up some creative, and fantastic sponsored events. We’re sure that some islanders will be particularly resourceful, and there will be some very unusual fundraising opportunities which can be shared through Facebook and Twitter for friends, family,and colleagues to sponsor. Whilst the activity must be safe to undertake, this is an opportunity to use the power of social media to provide a much needed boost to our island’s voluntary sector.”

Setting up an event on Giving.gg is easy, and users can choose the charity or charities that they would like to benefit from their fundraising. There are currently 92 local charities registered on the site.

Giving.gg is designed, built and administered by volunteers, and does not charge any setup fees or deduct any charges from donations unlike most other fundraising platforms. If a donation is made by card, then the only deduction is the card processing fee by the bank.

It was created by the Association of Guernsey Charities to help local organisations maximise the benefit of any donations made. The facility was launched mid 2016, and has seen over 6000 individual donations, totalling more than £250,000. It is available, at no charge, to members of the Association of Guernsey Charities. Any charity interested in joining should contact mail@charity.org.gg to complete the simple setup process.

Some charities have also set up their own specific “Coronavirus Crisis” fundraising page so that people can make a donation to assist their anticipated charity funding gap.

The Association of Guernsey Charities is the body that represents the Bailiwick’s voluntary and charitable sector. It has worked hard over recent weeks to liaise with more than 320 of the island’s charities, to offer help and support through these very challenging times.

In addition, this week the Association is also contacting all charities to ask about their funding concerns for 2020.

Malcolm Woodhams said “charities are fundamentally important in our islands, but they rely on donations and fundraising to survive. However, it is clear that many events are currently having to be cancelled. Furthermore, there are many sponsored activities that are no longer going ahead. Consequently, this year many charities are expected to face a major funding predicament which could potentially mean affecting their operation. We urgently need to form a view on how great this problem will be, and how much it will affect our island’s charities and the services that they offer.”

Charities are being asked to feed back details on their anticipated shortfall by emailing the Association of Guernsey Charities - mail@charity.org.gg as quickly as possible.

Any charities that are experiencing an urgent or critical funding crisis – particularly if that could affect the delivery of vital care or services in the short term – should also contact the Association who will be able to work with organisations to find the help that they need.